Keeping your hot tub cleaned correctly is essential to prevent algae and mold from growing, bugs from spawning, and other problems that could affect your family's health. Hot Spring hot tub chemicals must meet the right standards to clean the hot tubs and prevent bacteria and germs. Choosing the right Hot Spring hot tub chemicals for your spa is essential to its maintenance.

Sanitizers
Before a hot tub can be used, it must be properly sanitized. The sanitizers will quickly kill bacteria in the water. Chlorine is one of the most important chemicals to use. Use salt water test strips to test the pH level in your hot tub to determine how much chlorine to add. Most people will use what is known as shock treatment—the addition of a large quantity of chlorine at once—as it quickly cleans and sanitizes the hot tub. However, chlorine tablets like Trichlor are not recommended for a hot tub, as that much chlorine is highly corrosive in warm water and could damage the hot tub. If you prefer to use tablets, make sure to only use the ones specifically made for a hot tub. If you use chlorine to clean your hot tub, be sure to work in an adequately ventilated space and stay away from the tub until some of the chlorine dissipates, as it can cause respiratory health problems.

Bromine
It helps to add bromine to the hot tub in the form of nuggets or granules. Some people prefer bromine over chlorine, as it doesn't have as pungent a smell and is easier to understand how to use. If your hot tub has a cartridge system, you can add the bromine here and it will be correctly dispersed to provide the right amount of the chemical to your hot tub.

Biguanide
This product will kill bacteria in the hot tub. It doesn't have odors like chlorine and works better than bromine in some regions. The downside is that it is not compatible with the enzyme system, which many people use in addition to their cleaning system of choice to help break down and dissolve contaminants naturally.

Ozone
Ozone isn't actually a sanitizing agent: it's an oxidizer that is used with all kinds of sanitizers to make them more effective in lower concentrations. In order to use ozone to help keep your hot tub clean, you'll need a piece of equipment called an "ozonator". Even with the use of ozone, you must continue to supplement with a sanitizer, like bromine, chlorine, or biguanide.  

Ionizers
You can choose from passive or active ionizers. These products are typically sold as cartridges in floating containers that are used help clean and sanitize the water. Ionizers do a good job of killing organic substances that might grow in the hot tub water, like algae or bacteria, but aren't enough to sanitize the water on their own. Ionizing works in tandem with sanitizers like chlorine to keep the water clean.

Don't Forget Your Filtration System!
No matter which sanitation system you choose to use, the filters in your Hot Springs hot tub need to be changed often to keep the water clean. Depending upon how often you swim, you will need to change the filters every other week or at least monthly.

Using a Freshwater Spa Kit
One of the best ways to keep your hot tub clean is to use a freshwater spa care kit. These kits include everything you need to keep your hot tub clean. The kits include concentrated chlorinating granules, pH Down, MPS Oxidizer, pH Up, Stain & Scale, 5-way test strips, Defoamer, and a spa water maintenance and troubleshooting guide.

It's important to know which chemicals will be right to help keep your spa clean and sanitary. With summer coming up and more people hoping to hop in the hot tub, make sure you've got all the right sanitation equipment you need.